December 2018 – Local Unemployment Rate Remains Lowest In Ontario

By December 7, 2018 March 11th, 2020 News, News Release 2018

News Release

December 2018 – Local Unemployment Rate Remains Lowest In Ontario

Media Information:

Walkerton, ON (December 7, 2018) – In November, the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region continued to hold the lowest unemployment rate in the province at 3.6%, though this represented an increase of 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous month. The provincial unemployment rate decreased 0.6 percentage points to 5.2%.

Employment decreased by 4,200 in the region with full-time losses (-5,900) partially offset by part-time gains (+1,600).

The number of Goods-producing sector employees increased by 1,600 in the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Economic Region. The greatest gains were in Manufacturing (+1,600) and Utilities (+500), offset by losses in Agriculture (-400) and Construction (-400).

Employment in the Services-producing sector decreased by 5,800. The greatest losses were in Accommodation and food services (-1,300), Wholesale and retail trade (-1,200) and Information, culture and recreation (-1,200).

Favourable news for the region’s economy includes: Bruce Power announced a MOU with nuclear contractor Framatome with potential for hundreds of new hires over the next several years.

With the 18 million dollar expansion project underway, Gateway Casino in Hanover has begun the process of hiring up to 70 new employees.

Hart Department Store will be opening in part of the former Sears location in Stratford. They will be hiring 30 to 40 staff, and anticipate keeping approximately 15 in permanent positions after the holiday season.

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Note: Statistics Canada’s monthly Labour Force Survey provides estimates of employment and unemployment, based on a sampling of households in communities. Stratford-Bruce Peninsula figures represent a three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality.